Who can admit to not getting a little heart flutter and smile, when a lovely little Jenny Wren, starts frantically darting about on the garden wall in front of you?

This little brown bundle will be intently hunting for tasty insects in the moss and crevices amongst the stones. Their pointy little beak expertly designed for the job in hand of removing spiders from the webs, so carefully constructed. Usually preferring to stay almost hidden in the undergrowth beneath well grown hedges, it’s the movement that gives it away…

All of a sudden a few leaves are being thrown about a few inches off the earthen floor, something is going in, then out of the corner or your eye you think you have spotted a little brown field mouse, busy scurrying about its daily business. Then you catch sight of it again briefly, and you see a little tail sticking up out of the back end of it. After straining your eyes to follow all the action you realise it is no mouse, it is our little manic Wren.

It also has a powerful voice that comes out of that little body, usually one of the earliest starters on bright spring mornings. This is not a bird to be ignored.

I have done a papier mache Wren before but I think this one is the best so far. When you see pictures of them close up, you suddenly become aware of all the different markings there are on their plumage that you simply cannot normally pick up on, as they simply damn don’t stay still long enough!

So this was an ideal opportunity to show off the real beauty of one of out favourite little garden birds. The paper was chosen and torn into little ‘feathers’ as usual (very little on this occasion). But it was finished off with a little more touching up of paint than usual to highlight all the subtle details. A few people visiting my studio have said they thought it was a real bird and can’t believe it’s all made out of paper, I think I will take that as a compliment.

It will get a few more admirers this weekend as we have an open weekend at Higherford Mill, Barrowford. 10th & 11th December 2016 10-4pm. lots of Artists will be opening their studios so will be lots to see and buy. I’m on the first floor at the front of the mill if you fancy visiting.

When we visited Orkney in May/June, we loved the different bird life we saw there, especially the seabirds around the dramatic rocky coastline.

But what we really wanted to see was the Puffins, we had done a little research and it seems these birds liked certain points on the Island more than others. The more windy and exposed the cliffs were the better it seems.

We first went to the Brough of Birsay, we had to wait for the tide to go out before we could walk over the causeway to the small Island. The ancient Viking settlement and graveyard was fascinating to walk around. Due to the safe position overlooking the shore you can see why this spot was chosen in an age where it seems battles were never far away.

Windy and exposed was certainly a feature of this rocky outcrop, where it looks like one side has sunk down whilst the other was jutting up and out into the North Sea. We battled up the hillside against the wind and walked around the top edge of the Island, where apparently the Puffins hang out on the cliff edges. After scanning the cliffs for about an hour we saw… one! Oh and a feral cat, which may or may not be connected.

The next Puffin adventure was to be the northern Island of Westray about an hours ferry ride from the mainland. We set off nice and early and first walked around some of the archaeological sites along the bay, this was brilliant as a team had had just uncovered a stone age well on the beach, still filling with Crystal clear water. Then it was off to see what we had come for, so we hopped back on the bus down to a spot on the coast known for Puffins, by this time it was very windy and starting to rain a little. There were various rocky stacks standing out from the cliff edges, and after binoculars were trained on the right spot, sure enough there were some Puffins. Not lots of them but enough, it was a joyful sight to see their clown like faces and made the weather trying to blow us over seem insignificant. Apparently the best time to see them is early in the morning or evening when the males are leaving or entering the burrow. Also, we were a little early in the month another week or so later and there are more to see, but we were happy we had met the little chappies even if it was through the binoculars.

Puffin – Westray, Orkney

So I have been keen to make my artwork into one of these birds ever since, and at the top of this page is the finished bird, it just needs its little wooden sign on the top to add yet. But I really enjoyed the process particularly the last bit where I added the details on it’s distinctive eye and beak which really brought it alive. It will be on display at a show we are doing at Scorton Village Hall, Lancashire this Sunday 23rd of August. So if you fancy coming along please do, lots of talented artisans will be there. Click here for more information.

Anyone who’s a member of the RSPB may have recently received through the post their quarterly copy of “Natures Home” magazine. Along with free admission to all of the UK’s RSPB reserves the magazine is a perk of being a member of said organisation. Back to this in a moment…

Now, as one who likes to get out and about as much as possible I’ve noticed that on the nature front things are cooling down. Birds are no longer singing to hold a territory or attract a mate and the frantic to and froing (is that a word?) feeding the young ones has mostly finished as they’ve fledged to make their first flights into a new wide world. It’s usually around this time that I start to wonder what to look out for and where my next half decent photo opportunity is going to come from?

This brings me back to the RSPB magazine I mentioned at the start of this post. Inside, there’s a section called “Your View”, which contains a selection of photos sent in by the magazines readers. In this new edition the winning image is of a rabbit taken by a chap called Paul Dimitriou – nothing special about a rabbit you may think? Well, this image (in my humble opinion) shows how with good composition and lighting and also in this case excellent timing can yield a prize winning photo, I wish I could link to the article so you could see it. The image is in portrait orientation of a young rabbit standing on its hind legs, sniffing at a stray grass seed head, presumably about to eat it, that’s about all that’s in the picture other than grass and out of focus nettles. It’s a very worthy winner in my book, if anyone’s reading this and have seen it I’d love to know your thoughts?

So the next time you or indeed I see a common rabbit or something similarly overlooked, don’t let the possible opportunity pass by. Paul Dimitriou will be glad he took his opportunity, the prize of £850.00 pounds worth of high spec Leica V-Lux f2.8 compact camera will soon end up in his hands.

The picture at the top of the page is one of my better rabbit images, there’s nothing much happening but I like the fact that there’s 4 of them looking relaxed and all facing the camera (sort of)…

Record temperatures around the country this week and my first sun loving Broad Bodied Chaser dragonfly (above) photographed at Lomeshaye Marsh in almost the same spot as one from last year. It would be good to see a male for comparison before the season’s finished. Also seen at the marsh were damselflies, Speckled Wood and Red Admiral butterflies, bees, wasps and many more insects, too many to name even if I could!

This mornings walk was a fairly quiet affair to start with, a Song Thrush briefly perched on a fence, the field behind giving a nice neutral backdrop.

Song Thrush

Along the path a I spotted a vole (Field or Bank?) which had found something tasty, this was the closest I could get before it realised I was creeping up and then vanished into the drystone wall.

Vole

The highlight of this morning was a Short Eared Owl over the moor, distant at first but eventually came just a little closer.

Short Eared Owl

Rewind further back to last weekend and a Snipe was posted by the roadside, probably keeping a watchful eye over its young ones in the field. The evening light was nice but not quite coming from the right direction for a decent photograph.

Snipe

Earlier that day Curlews were about and in good numbers.

Tight turn – Curlew

For me it doesn’t come much better than an encounter with a Barn Owl, I just wish it would come by in good light!

Barn Owl

That same evening, something I’ve seen a few times but not photographed – A Sun dog, Wikipedia describe one as an “atmospheric phenonmenon”. For the following photograph I turned down the lights a little to make it slightly more vivid as when it’s exposed correctly (ish) it doesn’t show the same as with the naked eye.

We are hosting our first Arts a Flutter fair this Saturday, 20th June, outside the Town Hall, Blackburn, Lancashire. The event promises to be quite an exciting day and is organised by the local council and titled ‘The Countryside comes to Town’. There will be an animal petting park, street entertainers, craft and food stalls and lots more, if you are in the area it will be worth a visit.

We have been busy preparing our items to sell. Since our visit to Orkney I have been much inspired by the beautiful natural landscape and local wildlife of the area. We were privileged enough to have a Hen Harrier visit our cottage garden whilst there, it was literally feet away.

Hen Harrier and Puffin range.

This majestic bird unfortunately is increasingly rare in most of the UK, it is feared because of persecution by the grouse shooting industry. Unbelievably this bird is quite common there and along with the Puffins and Short Eared Owl we had quite an avian treat.

Tweed puffin purse.

Whilst Dave was clicking away with his camera, my mind was working through new ideas to add to our range of bird themed gifts. Inspired by lots of Tweed fabrics I saw, I decided to combine the bird with the cushion and came up with these, a Puffin and Hen harrier cushion. Whilst working on these it gave me the idea of making the coin purses, I was really happy with these and think they have worked really well. We have got lots of cards and framed pictures and with my collection of 3d pictures we should have a nice collection for our stall. Here is some pics of my new stuff.

We’re back from our 2015 holiday in Orkney. This post is very pic heavy so I won’t make it even more painful by waffling on too much but in short, what a place! Weather was better than we thought it would be, a little breezy at times but no worse than what was left behind in east lancashire. Obviously the wildlife and landscape is different from home, Orkney is quite flat and open, not too many drystone walls, just mainly fences but all this helps with providing many great skies and views. Also, if you are into archaeology then Orkney is the place to be, both on the mainland and the surrounding islands. Anyway, on with the pics in no particular order..

Former crofters cottage – A regular sight all around Orkney

Ha Cottage awaits – At the end of a track about a mile from the main road…bliss!

Lambs in the garden keeps the mower in the shed..

Early morning double rainbow – 4 vertical shots stitched together in the new version of lightroom.

Sinking sun at Ha Cottage

Daffs at sunset

More daffs and cattle

Cottage with a view

Atmospheric sky

Another morning, another rainbow from the garden

Moving on to the local wildlife..

Oystercatcher – these birds were virtually resident in every field in Orkney

Oystercatcher – Nesting on a bridge

Ringed Plover – See how they blend in to their natural surroundings

A nervous Catherine and I at Yesnaby

Puffins were high on my list, unfortunately we were probably a couple of weeks or so early but we did see a small number from distance..

Puffin on Westray

A closer view of a lone Puffin at Yesnaby

Fulmar

Shag..

Seal at Yesnaby

Yesnaby Castle

Cliffs at Yesnaby

Bluebells

Kirkwall – Orkney’s capital

A few birds…

Passing Gannet at The Brough of Birsay

A formidable Great Skua – Did you see one drowning a Puffin on Springwatch the other night!

Stonechat on heather

Lapwing

Hooded Crow – Very flighty birds

The humble House Sparrow in the garden

Skylark

At distance – Red Throated Diver

Meadow Pipit

Tern on the Turn

Swallow

Short Eared Owl in the heather

Short Eared Owl on Birsay Moors

Finally, a bird at the top of my list, one I had good views of both the male and female but unfortunately the camera wasn’t to hand so this distant shot of a female is all I have.

Hen Harrier (female)

Apologies for the lengthy post, hopefully something will be in this little lot to inspire Catherine’s latest bird art :o)

Prior to taking the above image I’d been taking regular hikes up Pendle Hill for a couple of weeks or so in hope of seeing and photographing Dotterel. Up to this point I’d drawn a blank every single time. Even though sightings were being reported elsewhere I was beginning to wonder if this year would be a non event.

On Sunday morning 26th April after a rare lie in and while still in bed I reached over to check my phone. No missed calls but an email alert was in my inbox. Three Dotterel reported on Pendle early that morning! Typical! In less than 1 hour I was up and walking along Pendle towards the usual area south of the trig point to where the birds were reported. As I was making my way I could see three people grouped together with cameras and binoculars – obviously the word had spread quickly! For anyone that doesn’t know, Dotterel are quite rare but can be seen during migration, the birds stop off on Pendle at this time of year.

Sometimes its easy to locate something as small as a bird, you find the observers/photographers and look which direction they’re looking in but at this point they weren’t looking in any particular direction which made me wonder if I’d missed my opportunity. Thankfully after walking a few more yards suddenly there they were – almost under my feet and barely giving me a second glance. I dropped down to the ground and crawled to a decent viewing point. The light was good and the sun behind me so after dialling in some camera settings it was a case of hoping the birds stayed pretty close by, which they did for most of the hour I was there.

Dotterel1/4000, F6.3, ISO 640

In the hour I was there I took plenty of images although lots were binned. The long grass can make it difficult obtaining a clear view, especially when you’re belly down! Since that Sunday morning the birds didn’t stay around for too long. Last year I had four separate sessions with a group of five birds. Next year (given the chance) I’ll try and concentrate on group photo’s, maybe I’ll need a wide angle lens :o)